POLICE constabularies have united in the biggest campaign yet against summer drink-drivers.

All of the North West forces - Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cumbria - will work together as part of a sustained and coordinated enforcement campaign.

And their message couldn't be clearer - drivers who get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol run the risk of being caught wherever they are in the North West.

To launch the campaign, Cheshire Police set up a family barbecue scene at Warrington Hospital with the missing 'victims' of drink-driving illustrated by silhouetted figures.

PC Nick Woodcock, of Cheshire Police traffic management, said: 'On average 3,000 people are killed or seriously injured each year in drink-driving collisions.

'Contrary to what drink-drivers may think, alcohol does not make them a better driver - it makes them a dangerous driver and this joint campaign is designed to highlight the devastating consequences their actions can have.'

Cheshire Fire Service had a crashed vehicle at the hospital to highlight the traumatic results of traffic accidents.

Geoff Shephard, the fire service's community safety area manager, said: 'We now rescue three times as many people from collisions as we do from fires and are supporting this regional drink-drive campaign by using crashed vehicles to show the work needed to rescue people who are trapped.'

Roadside checks will be carried on key routes by specialist police teams which will work exclusively on the campaign.

Road safety minister Stephen Ladyman said: 'The summer months see an increase in drink-drive casualties and it's essential motorists remember if they're going to drink they should get someone else to drive or leave their car at home.'